Antony seeks extension for BrahMos Chief

New Delhi, July 30 (UNI) Overruling a DRDO recommendation to the contrary, Defence Minister AK Antony has sought extension in service of BrahMos Chief A Sivathanu Pillai -- slated to retire tomorrow.

Dr Pillai -- distinguished scientist and Chief Controller, Research and Development in the Defence Research&Development Organisation (DRDO) of the Ministry of Defence -- is currently the powerful Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the New Delhi-based BrahMos Aerospace Corporation, a joint venture between DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia.

BrahMos Aerospace developed the worldclass BrahMos supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. Its propulsion is based on the Russian Yakhont missile and guidance has been developed by Brahmos Corp. At speeds of Mach 2.5 to 2.8, it is about three times faster than the American subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile. The missile is named after two great Indian and Russian rivers -- the Brahmaputra and the Moskva, respectively.

The DRDO refusal to extend Dr Pillai's tenure of service -- in the face of demands for the same from the three Services where induction of the BrahMos missile was presently on -- according to Defence Ministry sources -- emanates from the fact that he belongs to the pro-Kalam lobby -- nowadays in the bad books of the powers- that-be -- within the country's scientific community.

Dr Pillai was not only part of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's SLV-3 core team but worked with him in the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) -- the fruition of which lent the now former President the name of India's Missile Man.

Earlier this month, the Defence Ministry had sought the DRDO's recommendation regarding the extension for Dr Pillai. After some dilly-dallying, the 'DRDO Peer Group' -- a committee of scientists and senior administrators of the organisation chaired by DRDO CHief M Natarajan -- finally met on July 17 last and thought it was not wise to grant Dr Pillai an extension in service -- but it chose not to immediately convey to the Ministry its recommendation.

The sources said it was only after Minister Antony once again sought to ascertain late last week the status regarding Dr Pillai that the DRDO's thumbs-down was duly forwarded to the Minister's office.

According to the sources, the Minister -- outright rejecting the DRDO finding -- recommended that Dr Pillai be granted extension in service.

Minister Antony's stand is buttressed by the three Services which are in various stages of induction of the BrahMos missile which is to be fitted on IAF Sukhois and is currently in the midst of the induction process in the Army -- in fact, the coming month was expected to see the Army's induction process on a fast pace.

And all three Services feel Dr Pilai -- as the key resource Person -- was vital to the induction process and must remain, the sources pointed out.

The Indian Army in June last became the first force in the world to be armed with surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile with the induction of the 290km-range BrahMos missile. In its initial stages of induction, the Army proposes to raise three regiments of the BrahMos missile system and has raised special BrahMos groups to operate them.

The Indian Navy has already inducted the BrahMos missile on its various fighting ships -- and shortly plans to place it onboard submarine platforms.

The Ministerial recommendation seeking extension in service for Dr Pillai now awaits the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Appointments which shall rule whether the 61-year-old distinguished scientist would be able to contribute more to the Nation in his present capacity as the CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace.

UNI